Right-Wing Media Rush To Endorse Republican Challenges To Speaker Boehner

Written by Sophia Tesfaye

Published

Right-wing media quickly offered Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) glowing praise and endorsements after they announced plans to challenge Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) for the Speaker of the House position.

Conservative Congressmen Will Run Against Boehner For Speaker Of The House

On Fox News, Rep Louie Gohmert (R-TX) Announces Challenge To “Dictator” Boehner. On the January 4 edition of Fox & Friends Sunday, Texas congressman Louie Gohmert announced his candidacy for Speaker of the House and slammed Boehner as a “dictator.” Gohmert went on to describe his frustrations with Boehner's time as Speaker:

GOHMERT: Well, we have heard from a lot of Republicans that, gee, I'd vote for somebody besides Speaker Boehner but nobody will put their name out there as running so there's nobody else to vote for. Well, that changed yesterday when my friend Ted Yoho said I'm putting my name out there, I'll be candidate for Speaker. And I'm putting my name out there also today, to be another candidate for Speaker.

[...]

We have enough people that say, you know what? It really is time for a change. You deceived us when you went to Obama and Pelosi to get your votes for the CRomnibus. You said you would fight amnesty tooth and nail and you didn't, you funded it. And then you took the only hostage that Obama would like for us to shoot. It was a terrible strategy, and it follows a number of years of broken promises. It's time for a change, and a poll came out Friday saying 60 percent or more of Republicans in the country that voted in the last election, well, including independents that voted Republican, they want a change. They want a different Speaker. [Fox News, Fox & Friends Sunday, 1/4/15]

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) Declares Candidacy For Speaker Of The House. In a January 3 Facebook post, Florida Congressman Ted Yoho wrote that he would not support Boehner in his bid for reelection as Speaker, instead announcing his own candidacy for the position:

I will not support John Boehner for Speaker of the House.

I ran for Congress in 2012 because I had had enough. Enough of career politicians, enough of political gamesmanship, and enough of the lack of leadership in Washington. As we enter 2015, we are faced with overwhelming challenges. However, the dawn of 2015 also promises unlimited potential and the opportunity to begin rebuilding America. [Facebook.com, 1/3/15]

Right-Wing Media Jump To Endorse Conservative Challenges To Speaker Boehner

Sean Hannity: “I Support Louie!” Fox News host Sean Hannity tweeted his support for Gohmert almost immediately following the congressman's announcement on Fox News:

[Twitter.com, 1/4/15] 

Mark Levin: “The Goal Is To Deny Boehner About 30 GOP Votes.” On January 4, conservative radio host Mark Levin used his social media accounts to promote Gohmert and Yoho's decisions to run, saying: “the goal is to deny Boehner about 30 GOP votes.”

[Twitter.com, 1/4/15; Facebook.com, 1/3/15]

Ben Shapiro Promotes Gohmert's “Honorable” Challenge. On January 4, Breitbart.com senior editor-at-large Ben Shapiro called Gohmert's challenge to Boehner “honorable” in a series of tweets opposing Boehner. He also used the hashtag #stopboehner:

[Twitter.com, 1/4/15, 1/4/15]

Breitbart's Boyle: “There Are No Excuses For Any Republican Who Votes For Boehner.” In a series of tweets on January 4, Breitbart's Matthew Boyle reported on Gohmert's newly announced candidacy before slamming Boehner. He argued that “a vote for Boehner is a vote for continuing Pelosi's tactics of not allowing members to read bills before voting on them”:

[Twitter.com, 1/4/15]

Drudge Report Hypes Republican Infighting. The Drudge Report hyped a newly released poll indicating that 60 percent of Republican respondents prefer a new House Speaker and promoted the news of conservative challenges to Boehner:

[Drudge Report, 1/4/15]

Breitbart's Horowitz Urges Conservatives To Support Challenges To Boehner. Breitbart's Daniel Horowitz argued that, with Gohmert and Yoho's announcements, conservatives have “no excuse” not to replace Boehner. Horowitz laid out his game plan for defeating Boehner in a series of tweets, and used the hashtag #FireBoehner:

[Twitter.com, 1/4/15, 1/4/15]